Big tuna still on the goChris Hall | First Published: July 2012

The southern bluefin tuna season continued throughout June and there were good catches to be had for those in the right place at the right time.

Anglers making sure their lures were a close match to the bait the SBT were feeding on have done well. The largest SBT to date was caught by the crew of Red Hot Charters while fishing in 55m of water between Julia Percy Island and Lawrence Rock weighing in at 81kg caught on 10kg line taking 1 hour and 25 minutes. There were also good catches of mahi mahi and albacore and other school fish between 10-15kg.

Over the Queens birthday weekend there was over 100+ boat trailers at the ramp with many keen anglers venturing out, and for some their last outing of the year. Most of the SBT were mainly caught in the 50-100m depths between Cape Bridgewater and Lawrence Rock. A few anglers ventured out to the Shelf and saw some good mahi mahi and SBT along with albacore coming back to the cleaning tables.

The SBT ranged from 10-15kg with sightings of much bigger SBT estimated at 70-80kg following the smaller ones up from the deep. It just goes to show that the bigger ones are still about late into the season.

As we head into July a lot of the fishing depends on the weather conditions but SBT should remain in close until the end of July but they will be spread out and selective when feeding which will make it a little harder to locate and catch.

Other than tuna

Anglers have also been enjoying the 50-70m water between the lighthouse and Cape Bridgewater with good catches of blue morwong, snapper, gurnard, flathead, gummy and schoolie sharks; with the odd mako also being landed. Between Lawrence Rock and Point Danger there has been good catches of snook, and off Point Danger there have also been great catches of whiting.

Between Blacknose and Pivot Beach there have been good catches of salmon for both boating and land-based anglers. Over on the north shore local Allan Mitchell found plenty of small snapper and whiting while fishing out in front of the blue A frame house in 14m of water.

Land-based anglers out in front of the Surrey and Fitzroy rivers have been catching gummy and school sharks along with snapper, trevally and salmon. Tailor have also been caught which is a good sign that mulloway should be lurking around as well. The Surrey and Fitzroy rivers have also been fishing well for those chasing bream.

Fishing off the Lee Breakwater in recent years, you normally have a late run of winter snapper up to 7kg so make sure your gear is up to scratch if fishing here. Recent catches off the Lee Breakwall have included salmon, calamari squid, the odd whiting, pinkies, gummy shark and school shark.

In the canal and around the harbour catches of black bream, mullet, pinkies, slimy mackerel, whiting and calamari squid have been keeping many of the land-based anglers occupied.

If you’re heading to Portland give the boys at Portland Bait & Tackle a call on 0355235213 for all your latest fishing and weather reports, we are open 7 days a week

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The Red Hot Charters crew with an awesome 81kg SBT.

Josh Baker of Horsham with two great Tassie trumpeter of 10kg caught while bottom bouncing on the Shelf.